June 22, 2009
Workshop teaches about nutrient management plan software
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Crop consultants, farmers, and National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employees are welcome to attend the first Nutrient Management Plan Development Workshop, July 21-22, hosted by Purdue University's Department of Agronomy.The workshop will be at the Beck Agricultural Center at the Purdue Agronomy Center for Research and Education (ACRE) located near West Lafayette.
"This is an interactive workshop for participants of all experience levels interested in developing a nutrient management plan," said Brad Joern, Purdue Extension specialist.
The workshop will focus on developing nutrient management plans (NMPs) from a software perspective.
"The software tools that we will be using in this workshop are designed to streamline the NMP development process as much as possible," Joern said.
The first tool that will be discussed is the Missouri Clipper Web site where planners can download aerial imagery and spatial and tabular data needed to start the planning process.
The second software tool that will be discussed is Map Windows Geographic Information System. The Map Window GIS software is a tool planners can use to draw field boundaries, application setbacks, sensitive features and conservation practices based on data retrieved form the Missouri Clipper Web site.
The third piece of software that will be discussed is the Manure Management Planner (MMP). This software is where the majority of the planning process occurs, including soil erosion and other risk assessment calculations. It can be used to create a nutrient management plan or a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) that will meet the national planning requirements for both NRCS and EPA.
MMP is the only software that is supported by both EPA and NRCS to meet the nutrient management plan requirements of both agencies. MMP currently is available for use in 34 states and is downloadable for free at https://www.agry.purdue.edu/mmp/
All workshop participants will receive continuing education units.
Workshop enrollment is limited to 60 people, and the $125 registration is due by July 1. If room is available after July 1, registration will be $150. Registration includes two catered lunches. A downloadable registration form and agenda is available online at https://www.ag.purdue.edu/agry/dtc/Documents/Nutrient-MGMT-2009.pdf
The Beck Agricultural Center is located at 4540 U.S. 52 West.
Writer: Sayde Rayburn, 765-494-8402, srayburn@purdue.edu
Source: Brad Joern, 765-494-9767, bjoern@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-8415;
Steve Leer, sleer@purdue.edu
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